Round The States

New Delhi, 5 June 2015

Manipur Ambush

CENTRE MUST REDEFINE PLAN

By Insaf

The Centre’s North-East strategy needs further redefining. Thursday’s ambush by insurgents on a military convoy in Chandel district of Manipur killing 20 army personnel and injuring 11 others, is yet another wake-up call for New Delhi. There has been a recent escalation of violence in the region and the latest attack on the Indian Army is said to the worst in two decades. Imposition of AFSPA cannot be a substitute for putting pressure on the insurgents, rather it alienates the people. Extension of ceasefire with outlawed groups too is no solution as the insurgents obviously are not keen to come to the negotiating table. The Centre should specifically make a note of UNLFW (United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia) which has claimed responsibility for the Manipur ambush, with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons. It is a conglomeration of NSCN(K) with which the Centre recently terminated the ceasefire agreement, the United Liberation Front of Assam (I) Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) and National Democratic Front of Boroland (Songhbijit), formed in Myanmar with its objective of “united and total struggle”.

While the Home Ministry has spoken of an ‘all-out offensive’ to trace and eliminate the militants involved in the attack, South Block would do well to seek the help of Yangon. Importantly, the new-found development mantra of the Modi Government with Ministries rolling out schemes may not do the trick. Action on the ground more than words is required to get locals on its side to marginalize the militant groups. The extortion business of the rebels, which has grown into a flourishing industry must be nipped and corruption rooted out.  Gaining the people’s confidence and fight insurgency together should be the long-term goal.  A comprehensive strategy would be far wiser than knee-jerk reactions.  

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States Act Instant on Maggi 

Nestle India is in a soup! With States across the country having swung into action following reports of ‘Maggi Instant Noodles’ having traces of excessive lead and containing quantities of MSG, and Centre contemplating a ban, the company finally decided to pull out the product on Thursday last. While it claimed the noodles were “completely safe”, test reports from few States suggest otherwise. UP ordered recall of 2 lakh packets, Delhi imposed a 15-day ban, J&K, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Assam and Telanagana and Tamil Nadu imposed a total  ban, whereas Himachal put dealers on notice, Rajasthan started a week-long inspection drive, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Punjab put Maggi samples under scanner and the Army  set the stock aside in its. Importantly, while the Centre filed an ‘unfair trade practices” complaint against Nestle, as usual it has lost the woods for the tress. Why do States and Centre get cracking on food safety only when there is an alarm raised? What has the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, doing all this while? Can there be a robust mechanism in place or will this clamour be similar to the one about fizz drinks few years ago, which eventually fell flat.  Food safety standards and hygiene should not be just crisis management.

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J&K Discord

It’s testing time for PDP-BJP government in J&K. While in the Valley, the administration is busy grappling with mobile connectivity with militant outfits’ diktat to cellular operators, Jammu started simmering with Sikh youth protesting against removal of posters of slain Khalistani leader Bhindranwale. With one youth killed, and few others injured in clashes on Thursday last, the SGPC has stepped in. Saying the entire Sikh community stood behind the protesting youth, it asked Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed to take action against the cops for removing the posters and the killing or else the situation may get worse. The Centre too, which is keeping an eye on the valley has asked Mufti to ensure security of communication infrastructure, following landowners who allowed towers on their property shutting these and recharge shops downing shutters after local HM group killed three persons. While some operations have resumed, the Government has warned operators if they don’t comply it would move the towers to more secure locations. Fortunately, for it, the Hurriyat is against the ban on mobile services which should be a breather. But Mufti would have realised that the challenges have started.

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 “Golden” Telangana

Telangana is in jubilation mode. Week-long celebrations for the State’s first anniversary were kicked off on Tuesday last, costing the State exchequer Rs 20 crore! But this doesn’t seem to bother Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. Telangana, he told his people would not be a “failed State...it has already attracted Rs 91,000 crore investments, by 2018 there would be 24 hour power supply, people will get jobs and Rs 28,000 cr is being spent on their welfare....”  While this should be good news for the Centre, who is being nudged to provide “special status” to the newly-created State, Andhra Pradesh must be smarting.  Having been bifurcated ‘unjustifiably’, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu opted for a rally where he lamented about the injustice, lack of resources and not even having a capital. Obviously, ground work for reiteration of demand for Central financial aid. Will the celebrations come to his aid to push its ally in New Delhi to apply the balm?

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MP’s Vegetarian Code

Madhya Pradesh government seems to believe more in personal choice rather than public interest. This message clearly emanates from none other than Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who has decided that the anganwadi meals in State’s tribal districts will no longer include eggs. Being a staunch vegetarian, he is not open to scientific rationale. His views on eggs are publicly well known. ‘Milk and bananas will be served but never eggs’ and at least not till he is the CM, is his diktat. This despite the known fact that eggs provide more nourishment than milk and are a source of protein, potassium, carbohydrate and several vitamins, good for health. Surprisingly, the State, like others had eggs on its menu of mid-day meals earlier. However, this time around, the Integrated Child Development Services proposal to serve eggs in curry or boiled twice or thrice in a week to the children in age group of 3-6 in anganwadis was a no-go. And, there was no further debate, as Chouhan’s  ‘sentiments’ take precedence over the State’s malnourished kids! --- INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)